An analysis of targeted properties of materials used for preservation and storage of heritage collections

National And University Library In Zagreb, Croatia ,Gabriela Aleksić,Tomislav Cigula,Suzana Pasanec Preprotić,University Of Zagreb, Faculty Of Graphic Arts, Zagreb, Croatia

doi:10.24867/jged-2022-1-005

Abstract

The aim of this study was to stress the importance of investigating the properties of preservation enclosure materials in order to identify the ones that are able to protect their contents more efficiently. Since not all information on materials is covered by international standards and technical specifications, nine paper-based materials used for making preservation enclosures (file folders, passepartouts, boxes etc.) were investigated. A selective analysis of the materials' properties was carried out to determine smoothness, water absorptiveness, water wettability, water vapor permeability, tensile strength, folding endurance, bursting strength, puncture strength, as well as loss of bursting strength caused by dry heat and 100% RH. Results obtained from measuring smoothness, water absorptiveness, water wettability and water vapor transmission rate indicate that a material outside of ISO 16245:2009 grammage requirements for making file covers can exhibit more desirable properties than the one that meets multiple standards for storage and preservation. Additionally, results showed that bursting strength of enclosure materials was significantly affected by both extreme microclimate conditions. However, 100% RH had affected bursting strength of the investigated materials more than dry heat. The presented procedure proved to be a useful indicator of materials’ properties within the context of heritage collections preservation and storage

Highlights

Archival and museum heritage collections consist of items made of materials such as leather, parchment, wood, metals, textiles, paper-based materials, waxes, inks and colorants, which are vulnerable to various external factors
One of the methods to reduce or limit the effect of those factors is based on using preservation enclosures during storage, circulation, exhibitions and transport
We aimed to review targeted properties of different paper-based enclosure materials in order to gain insight into their protective performance under various threats

Summary

Introduction

Archival and museum heritage collections consist of items made of materials such as leather, parchment, wood, metals, textiles, paper-based materials, waxes, inks and colorants, which are vulnerable to various external factors. Testing times were adjusted to both Cobb60 (paper) and Cobb120 (boards), according to the rate of the water absorption of the materials. Robust enclosures made of boards are expected to provide a higher degree of protection for an item, so all types of boards (NETT, PASS, SLJ1, SLJ2, MK1, MK2) were tested for bursting and puncture strength.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion